Cavaliers seriously fumbled 2011 potential

heathmalc · Post #1 » by **heathmalc** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:22 am

Kyrie was a good safe pick, and may even turn out to be a HoF type player, who will make us remember this draft with fondness.

Thompson is a defensive beast and can rebound very well. He could easily become a defensive player of the year type player. He is a lot like Ben Wallace in that aspect, with maybe a tad more upside on offense.

number 32 seems to have been a waste! There was a LOT of players they needed, and that was available, but they traded for a couple future 2nd rounders. We wont know if that was a good move or not for a few years, but I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I feel disappointed.

number 54 was a complete and utter FUMBLE!!! What the hell were they drinking? Etwan Moore was available, and the type of player that the Cavs needed. Lighty could have also filled a good role. But Lighty is someone they have a shot at still signing to the team...but if he turns out to be a good player on another team, Grant will be a lot closer to being castrated at the nearest local sports bar in Cleveland.

In summary, the Cavaliers get a "C" rating from me for this draft.

After Kyrie, the Cavs have a "A+" rating

After Thompson, the Cavs drop to an "A" rating.

After Harper, the Cavs drop to a "B-" rating''

After the "FUMBLE" pick at 54, the Cavs finish with a "C"

If the Cavs don't move Hickson or Varejao very soon, as well as Sessions or Baron, then the Cavs draft will be even worse. If they do make those trades, depending on what they do/get, then maybe this draft turns out to be better than we thought due to new players acquired in trade.

I know that I am extremely disappointed right now, and feel like the Cavs have pulled a Kahn/Golden State/Clippers- type move, to ensure that the Cavs remain a crappy team.

Yeah, I'm p**sed off!

Grant had better do something very quickly, or I am going to personally abduct him, and send him back to Atlanta, where he can screw their team and city up.

Baseline Runner · Post #2 » by **Baseline Runner** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:40 am

Dude, I wouldn't sweat the second round picks that much. How Irving and Thompson pan out is all that really matters. If we get Chris Paul and Kenyon Martin/Ben Wallace out of these two picks, Grant will go down as a genius, especially since no one was projecting Thompson that highly.

Post #3 » by **Rise Against** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:55 am

Maybe Grant is keeping Sessions and some other players to ensure that they will get a lottery pick for the 2012 draft, barring a lockout of course.

EwwItsRasho · Post #4 » by **EwwItsRasho** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:02 am

2nd round picks do not make or break a draft, they rarely pan out. They could have drafted a RealGM poster and it wouldn't affect the team much, if at all.

Triumph36 · Post #5 » by **Triumph36** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:14 am

Yeah....saying Thompson could become a DPOY-esque player is a tad optimistic.

Effigy · Post #6 » by **Effigy** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:02 am

If the Cavs fumbeled the 2011 draft, it's because they reached on Thompson...

Post #7 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:45 am

How silly is it to think that the second round picks are going to make or break the Cavs draft?

tidho · Post #8 » by **tidho** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:07 pm

I'm not suggesting 2nd rounders are sure things, but with our roster we could have gotten someonethat could contribute right away or at least had some shot at helping down the lines. Our wings are Gee and Harris with only PGs and PFs backing them up.

Thompson was a reach at #4 and while he may turn out to be a Kenyon Martin type that is assuming a ton of development. It would be easier to forgive the reach if it were for a player that actually filled one of our three major needs - he obviously does not. Good prospect, bad fit.

Irving was the safe obvious choice at #1. The only downside of that pick is the roster shuffle its going to generate. Meanwhile the rest of our draft just made that worse and we've lost any leverage we may have had.

Given our draft position I have to agree with the OP. This was a fumble. I'd rank this draft a 'D'.

mcfly1204 · Post #9 » by **mcfly1204** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:45 pm

I am just disappointed that they passed on Jeremy Tyler, I thought it made sense to go after a center prospect with a high upside.

I am calling it right now, Jeremy Tyler will soon be Golden State's most overrated prospect. "I wouldn't trade Tyler for Varejao and a mid first..."

Roger Murdock · Post #10 » by **Roger Murdock** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:46 pm

I hate the Thompson pick. I just don't see any upside in an undersized power forward without the ability to develop a midrange game or convert free throws. We took a guy at 4 that has essentially no chance of ever becoming an all star.

camahl · Post #11 » by **camahl** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:02 pm

I cant believe all the crap im hearing about Thompson. It amazes me that everyone automatically asumes a player will be a bust because they lack a mid range jumper. The guys a power forward.. since when was it essential to be a good player that a big needed to be a dead eye from long range? Ive played with players that will sit on the perimeter all day and jack up mid range and 3 balls all day but wont hustle for a loose ball or box out for a rebound... there is nothing more frustrating! I would be surprised if im the only one that feels this way. Now im not saying that been able to knock down a open shot isnt important... but im sure given his age and the amount of coaching he will recieve that he will be able to at least develop a serviceable jumper.
You dont need 5 offensive superstars to be a good team. For all we know TT could become a defensive superstar with a serviceable offensive game.
If I was a building a team from scrath I know I would want defensive bigs who can finish and score in the post rather than a volume shooting bigman.

gflem · Post #12 » by **gflem** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:07 pm

Agree with Tidho, we have little leverage now in moving JJ or Andy. The time to do that was before the draft if we knew we were taking Thompson. I wonder if the Bobcats/Bucks/Kings trade affected what the Cavs did, meaning that after Kanter was gone at three, the trade took away some of the options Grant thought he had, and as a result he took the bpa on his board.
As for the Thompson pick I am disappointed, but it is what it is at this point. I am surprised at moving the 32, we could have gotten help on the wing, getting a defensive guy like Liggins would have been nice. I would think Orlando's 2nds arent going to be nearly as high in the future as the 32, so what exactly was the point?
I would have to give the draft a C- at this point, unless and until they make some more moves to try to balance out this roster.

mcfly1204 · Post #13 » by **mcfly1204** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:31 pm

gflem wrote:Agree with Tidho, we have little leverage now in moving JJ or Andy. The time to do that was before the draft if we knew we were taking Thompson.

I think we are actually better suited to trade JJ at some point now. JJ will start, and hopefully continue where he left off last season as far as his development is concerned. Worst case, JJ is putting up 15/8 on 45-50% shooting, and he is traded for a wing prospect and/or a first round pick. Best case, JJ blows up and we sign him to an extension, or JJ blows up and we move him for a legit wing and/or a draft pick or picks. Picking Thompson simply means that we have a legit PF prospect to replace JJ if we decide to move him for other pieces. I fail to see how this moves hurts his value, and think that JJ is his own worst enemy at this point.

Baseline Runner · Post #14 » by **Baseline Runner** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:58 pm

Roger Murdock wrote:I hate the Thompson pick. I just don't see any upside in an undersized power forward

Wow, 6'9" with a 7'1" reach is not undersized. Hakeem was the defensive goat and was about the same height. Thompson is a better shot blocker and interior defender than Jonas despite being a couple of inches smaller, he is also has more agility and can step out and defend threes and stretch fours. With his attitude and dedication along with his natural athletic abilities he is the ultimate defensive anchor prospect.

Triumph36 · Post #15 » by **Triumph36** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:20 pm

Baseline Runner wrote:
Roger Murdock wrote:I hate the Thompson pick. I just don't see any upside in an undersized power forward

Wow, 6'9" with a 7'1" reach is not undersized. Hakeem was the defensive goat and was about the same height. Thompson is a better shot blocker and interior defender than Jonas despite being a couple of inches smaller, he is also has more agility and can step out and defend threes and stretch fours. With his attitude and dedication along with his natural athletic abilities he is the ultimate defensive anchor prospect.

he's 6'8.75"....in shoes. sorry, that is undersized for a PF

Roger Murdock · Post #16 » by **Roger Murdock** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:51 pm

Hes 225 pounds. Thats small forward weight. I think this kid will be a terrific shot blocker and a great guy to switch on PnRs and all that. I don't know how well he will do guarding a bigger guy with weight on him in the low post, and I think he will struggle on the defensive glass.

Gold Chain · Post #17 » by **Gold Chain** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:03 pm

Tristan is going to surprise you guys, he's a tough kid.

Plus he's from the T-Dot and that makes him a winner right there. 8-)

Good luck!

mcfly1204 · Post #18 » by **mcfly1204** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:11 pm

One opportunity that Thompson could give us that JJ seemingly cannot is the ability to effectively pair him with a center that is lacking on the defensive end. In theory, someone like Bargnani or Jefferson should pair well with Tristan.

HeatForever · Post #19 » by **HeatForever** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:01 pm

I was surprised when the Cavs picked Tristan, but I actually like the pick and look forward to watching those two play, I just wonder what's going to happen at the 4 spot. Who's gonna start?

Wisedude42 · Post #20 » by **Wisedude42** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:37 pm

The big red flag with Thompson is that he is a 50 percent foul line shooter.

He better improve to be at least a 70 percent foul line shooter or this will be a bad pick by Grant. Other teams will just do hack-a-shack in the last 2 minutes of a game on Thompson. We saw this with Shaq and Ben Wallace and that's why they were yanked out of the last 2 minutes of the game.

You can't win big in the NBA if your players cannot make free throws. It makes all the difference in the outcome of games.